Gear and clutch mechanism for spinner type clothes-washing machines



Aug. l, 1950 c; s. DAYTON GEAR AND CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR SPINNER TYPEcLofmEs WASHING MACHINES med Nov. 2o. 1947 His Attorney.

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Patented Aug. l, 1950 GEAB AND CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR SPIN- NER TYPECLOTHES-WASHING MACHINES Carl S. Dayton, Bridgeport, Conn., assigner toGeneral Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application November20, 1947, Serial No. 787,228

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to clothes washing machines of the typewherein washing is performed in a basket by an agitator, the basketafterwards being rotated to centrifugally extract the water from theclothes.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction andarrangement in a washing machine of this type which is simple instructure. reliable in operation and capable of being manufactured atlow cost. The invention is especially well adapted for small portablemachines adapted to be readily lifted manually and placed on a drainboard. for example, when the machine is being used. However, theinvention is not limited thereto necessarily.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention,attention is directed to the following specification and to the claimsappended thereto.

In the drawing. Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a washing machineembodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on a larger scale ofthe operating mechanism, the section of certain parts being on theirregular section, line 2 2, Fig. 4: Fig. 3 is a detail view taken online 3 3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail view taken on line 4 4. Fig. 2;Fig. 5 is a detail view taken on line 8 5, Fig. 2 and Fig. 6 is asectional view of the upper end of the agitator showing parts in aposition difierent from that of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, I indicates the tub of the washing machinewhich may be supported on a base 2 provided with feet or casters I. Inthe tub is a unitary structure comprising a spin basket l in which theclothes are washed, an agitator I for performing the washing operation,and a sealed casing I in which is an electric motor and mechanismoperated by it for oscillating the agitator to perform the washingoperation, the basket being then stationary, and for spinning the basketand the agitator to extract the water from the clothes. This unitarystructure may be supported in the tub in any suitable way, the specificsupporting means forming no part oi' my present invention. In thepresent instance, it is shown as being supported by a base spring 'I andthree side springs l. Base spring I is positioned between a strap 9iixed to the bottom Il of tub I and the bottom of casing l. The lowerend of casing i projects through an opening II in bottom wall III. Thespace between the edge of opening II and casing l is sealed by asuitable flexible diaphragm I I attached at one edge to the wallsurrounding opening II and at the other edge to casing I.

Springs 8 are tension springs and are connected at one end to ears I3 oncasing l and at the other ends to ears I4 xed to the inner surface ofthe side wail of tub I. This arrangement serves to provide a yieldingresilient mounting for the unitary structure comprising casing t. themechanism therein, the basket ,Vand the agitator I. Tub I has an opentop closed by a suitable cover I5 and handles It on its sides by whichit may be lifted.

Casing I is shown as being formed in two sectiom, an upper section I1and a lower section Il. The sections are provided with meeting flangesI! which may be clamped together in sealing relation by studs 2l. Themotor for operating the mechanism is located in lower casing section Il.It comprises a suitable iield structure 20a carried by casing section Iland an armature 2I iixed on a shaft 22. Shaft 22 is supported in anupper bearing 23 carried by a diaphragm 2l which. at its edges, issupported on a shoulder 25 in casing section Il, and by a bearing inlower section I8 which may be in the form of a suitable step bearing(not shown). Casing l is suitably sealed to make it liquid tight toprevent leakage either to or from the casing.

On the upper end of motor shaft 22 is a pinion 2l which may be formedintegral with the shaft and which meshes with a gear wheel 21 mounted ona shaft 28 which in turn is carried by upper and lower walls 29 and Ilof a gear frame 3|. Formed integral with gear wheel 21 is an eccentric32 surrounding which is an eccentric strap 33 provided with an arm 34which in turn is connected to an arm il xed to a hub Il. Hub Il issupported on the upper end of pinion 2B which forms a step bearing forit. It is connected to the lower end of a vertical agitator shaft 31.Shaft 3T is Journaied in lower and upper bearings Il and 3B at the lowerand upper ends of a vertical tubular spin shaft Il. The lower end ofspin shaft III is fixed in a collar II by a pin IIa or other suitablemeans. Collar 4I forms a part of gear trarne ll. Spin shaft l! isJournaled in a bearing I2 carried in the top wall of casing section I'I.At 42a is a bearing pressed into an opening in lower wall III in whichmotor shaft I2 is positioned. Motor shaft 22 has a deep socket Il inwhich is located an extension 4I which forms the lower end of shaft 31.Between the lower end of shaft extension 44 and the bottom of socket 43is a coiled compression spring I5 which biases shaft 31 in an upwarddirection.

Spin basket I is iixed to tubular spin shaft 40. In the present instancethe bottom wall of the basket is shown as having a conical upwardlyprojecting portion 45 which terminates in a sleeve 41 surrounding shaft40. At its lower end sleeve 41 has a at surface which rests on a collar4B keyed to shaft 40. Collar 45 is fastened to sleeve 41 by a pin 48thus connecting the basket to spin shaft 4I.

Agitator 5 is of known construction comprising a tubular center post 55and blades Il. It is fixed to turn with shaft 21 by means of anoncircular opening at the upper end of post l which fits over anon-circular tapered nut l2 fastened on the upper end of shaft 51 and isheld on the shaft by a knurled nut 52a which threads onto the upper endof the shaft. At its lower end. post 55 is journaled on a bearing BIpressed on sleeve 41.

During washing, gear frame 2| is stationary and the motor oscillates theagitator through pinion 26, gear wheel 21. the eccentric connection andshaft 21. During spinning of the basket the motor is connected directlyto gear frame 3| to rotate the gear frame, the tubular shaft 40 and thespin basket, shaft 31 and the agitator 5 being rotated along with thebasket.

One feature of my invention is the mechanism for connecting the motorshaft directly to gear frame 3i for spinning the basket. Fixed to theunderside of gear frame 3| is a depending clutch ring 55 adapted to beengaged by suitable clutch facings 55 on the outer ends of a pair ofclutch arms 51. The clutch arms are pivotally mounted on pins B carriedby opposed ears which project from a collar 55 xed to motor shaft 22 bysultable means such as the pin 60. The inner ends of clutch arms 51stand adjacent to collar 55 on opposite sides of the collar and incollar 59 and shaft 22 are holes in which are located sliding pins BI.The inner ends of pins 5I terminate in shaft socket 43 and normallyengage the surface of shaft extension 44 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Inthis position, the outer ends of the pins engage the inner ends ofclutch arms 51, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4 to hold positivelyclutch facings 58 out of engagement with clutch ring 55. In the lowerend of shaft extension 44 is an annular groove 62. When the motor shaftis to be connected to gear frame 5|, shaft 51 and the agitator alongtherewith is lifted to bring groove 62 into line with the inner ends ofpins 6| whereby when the motor rotates the cuter ends of arms 51, beingno longer held by pins 5i, are thrown out by centrifugal force to bringthe clutch facings 55 into engagement with clutch ring 55, whereby themotor armature is connected directly to gear frame 3i by the centrifugalclutch. At this time pins 8i move radially inwardly, their inner endsmoving into groove 52.

Shaft 31 has two positions with respect to shaft 40. a lower or agitateposition as shown in Fig. 2, wherein pins 6| lock centrifugal clutcharms 51 against movement, and an upper or spin position wherein groove52 is in line with the ends of pins BI to release the clutch arms. Tolock shaft 31 in these two positions, I provide a detent mechanismcomprising a socket 6l in the upper end of shaft 31 in which ispositioned a shift pin e4 biased upward by a spring B5, upward movementbeing limited by a stop pin 5I driven across shaft 31 which extendsthrough a vertical slot i1 in shift pin 64. In the wall of socket 55 areseveral circumferentially spaced holes in which are detent balls 88adapted to engage in annular detent grooves B9 and lll in the innersurface of bearing 55. In shift pin B4 is an annular groove 1l havingbeveled ends, the groove being normally positioned above balls 55. Shiftpin 54 holds the balls in either groove or groove 11| to lock shaft 21against vertical movement. In Fig. 2 shaft 51 is shown as being lockedin its lower or agitate position, balls 55 projecting partly into grooveB9 and being so held by the outer surface of shiftI pin 54. To move theshaft to spin position, shift pin 54 is pressed down to bring groove 1Iinto line with balls 55 to release them, whereupon shaft 31 may be movedup to spin position. The balls are carried along with shaft 31 and assoon as they come into line with the other groove 10, spring 65 willmove shift pin 54 (pressure on it having been removed) back to itsnormal position to force the balls into such other groove to lock theshaft in its spin position as shown in Fig. 6. The beveled end of groove1I serves to cam the balls outward. In similar manner shaft 31 may bemoved back to agitate position. This detent construction has theadvantage that it is positive in action, and no amount of end thrustwill cam the balls out of groove 59 or 1li because their movement isblocked by the shift pin. By the use of balls I avoid any interferencewith the relative rotation of shafts 21 and 40. Shaft 51 can be movedonly when shift pin 64 is pressed down. The upper end of groove 62 isbeveled to act as a cam for forcing pins 6i outward when shaft 11 ismoved down from spin to agltate position.

It is desi'. able (although not necessary) during an agitate cycle tolock gear frame 5| against turning movement. In so far as my presentinvention is concerned, any suitable means may be used for this purpose.In the present instance, I have shown a means invented by John H. Palmerand which forms subject matter of his application Serial No. 787,114,now Patent No. 2,487,685, issued February 14, 1950, filed of even dateherewith, and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application.Such locking means comprises a collar 12 on shaft 45 in which is aradial hole in which is positioned a releasing pin 13. Any suitablemeans may be provided for limiting radially outward movement of pin 15under the action of centrifugal force. For example, it may be providedwith a peened over inner end or a head as shown in Figs. l and 5. Incollar 12 in line with the hole is a notch 14 with which engages theinner end of a locking pin 15. Pin 15 is positioned in a socket 15 incasing wall i1 and is biased to a position toward notch 14 by a spring11. In shaft 31 is an annular groove 15 having beveled ends in which theinner end of pin 15 normally stands. thus permitting locking pin l5 toengage notch 14 to lock shaft 40 and gear frame Il, to which it isattached, against turning. This is its position during an agitate cycle.When shaft 31 is lifted to spin position to release the centrifugalclutch so that it may connect the motor to gear frame 5i, releasing pin13 is cammed outward by the lower beveled edge of groove 1B to movelocking pin 15 out of notch 14, the releasing pin being moved to aposition where it is Just flush with the surface of collar 12. Thisreleases shaft 4I. When shaft 40 is turning, the inner end of pin 15rides on the surface of collar 12.

If desired. the arrangement may be such that shaft 51 is disconnectedfrom the gearing carried by frame Il during the spin cycle. To this endshaft I1 is shown as being provided with a tapered non-circular clutchhead l0 which dts in a socket Il in a hub 3B so that when shaft 31 israised to spin position to release the centrifugal clutch lockingmechanism, clutch head l0 is lifted free of socket lll, hub 36 beingthen free to oscillate on shaft 31. This arrangement is of advantage inthat in shifting from agitate to spin it prevents any agitation of theshaft during the period required for the motor to reach a speedsuniclently high to effect actuation of clutch arms 51 to ccnnect themotor shaft to frame 3|. At 82 is a pipe which during operation of themachine directs oil to parts requiring lubrication.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of myinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made without departing from myinvention in its broader aspects and I, therefore, aim in the appendedclaims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of my invention.

What 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. For use in a clothes washing machine or the like of the typedisclosed, concentric agitator and spin shafts movable axially relativeto each other, and means for actuating the agitator shaft or rotatingthe spin shaft comprising a casing into which ends of the shaftsproject, a gear cage rotatably mounted in the casing to which the spinshaft is connected, an electric motor, gearing carried by the cage whichconnects the motor to the agitator shaft, a clutch for connecting themotor to the gear cage, and means actuated by movement of said shaftsaxially relative to each other for rendering said clutch effective toconnect the motor to the gear cage.

2. For use in a clothes washing machine or the like of the typedisclosed, concentric agitator and spin shafts movable axially relativeto each other, and means for actuating the agitator shaft or rotatingthe spin shaft comprising a rotatably mounted gear cage, a motor,gearing carried by the cage through which the motor actuates theagitator shaft, a normally open clutch, and means actuated by themovement of said shafts axially relative to each other for renderingsaid clutch effective to connect the motor to the gear cage and spinshaft for rotating the spin shaft.

3. For use in a clothes washing machine or the like of the typedisclosed, mechanism comprising a tubular spin shaft, a rotatable gearcage to which lt is connected, a motor, a clutch ring carried by thegear cage, pivoted clutch arms carried by the motor shaft movable byrotation of the motor shaft for connecting them to the clutch ring, anagitator shaft positioned inside said tubular shaft, gearing carried bythe gear cage through which the motor shaft is connected to the agitatorshaft, and means actuated by axial movement of the agitator shaft forholding said clutch arms against movement.

4. For use in a clothes washing machine or the like of the typedisclosed, mechanism comprising a tubular spin shaft, a rotatable gearcage to which it is connected, a motor, a clutch ring carried by thegear cage. pivotcd clutch arms carried by the motor shaft movably byrotation of the motor shaft for connecting them to the clutch ring,transversely movable pins positioned in openings in said tubular spinshaft, the outer ends of which are adapted to engage ends of said clutcharms to hold them out of clutching engagement with the clutch ring, anagitator shalt positioned inside said tubular shaft, gearing carried bythe gear cage through which the motor shaft is connected to the agitatorshaft, and means carried by the agitator shaft for holding said pins inengagement with the clutch arms to hold the clutch arms out ofengagement with the clutch ring, said means being released by movementof the agitator shaft with respect to the spin shaft.

CARL S. DAYTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,947,033 Bush Feb. 13, 19342,361,767 Hays Oct. 3i, 1944 2,40U,835 Levin May 21, 1946

